Chapter 10

Bev

The thought of the demon running amuck in her town was unacceptable. The dragon responsible had no idea what he was messing with, and now she had to fix the issue before things fell apart. It wouldn’t be the first time Bev had worked to send demons back to Hell. This time, though, the demon had gained more power, taking a piece of the beast’s soul. What she didn’t know is how Jaz had managed to kick him out of his body. It was almost unheard of. This would not be a typical spell, nor would it be simple.

The problem, of course, was now they had no idea where he was hiding and just how much power he wielded, thanks to the dragon magic. Her lip curled in disgust just thinking about what kind of horrors the monster could inflict before she was able to successfully trap him.

Since the council had put her under Blane’s watchful eye she hadn’t so much as lifted a magical finger. She hated having a keeper, even though Blane was a much nicer master than she could have asked for. Regardless, as long as she was in his charge, she would never be free. Bev hoped by ridding Stratham of a powerful body jumper she might earn her freedom. Merida would have to trust her again. She wasn’t sure if she could go much longer without using her magic. Her refusal to caste spells was borne pure stubbornness, but she wouldn’t bow to anyone. Just because her magic sometimes got away from her didn’t mean she was a menace to the witch’s society.

“So, what exactly do you intend to do?” Libby asked quietly.

Bev liked her right off. She wasn’t as quiet and docile as she appeared, and already Bev saw that she was the strength between the two wolves. The male—he had far too many demons. The grief and guilt flowed off him and would have suffocated her if she weren’t able to block it. She wondered how the Empath was doing. She glanced at Dallas and saw nothing. The woman was a shell wrapped in rage. It was likely she wouldn’t be able to pick up on others’ emotions since she was so locked in her own despair.

“First, I’ll need to study your mate. He’s the one with a tie to the demon.”

Libby sat forward on the couch and narrowed her eyes. “Study how?”

Bev chuckled. “Fear not, wolf, I don’t intend to hurt him, but since he’s the summoner—and was possessed—the demon’s essence might still be present. That’s all I need to be able to create the spell.” Licking her lips and tilting her head to the side, she tried to figure out the best way to explain this to someone who wasn’t magically inclined. With the dragons, it was easier since they had their own magic, but wolves didn’t carry those abilities. “Once I create the spell, I’ll send Jaz into a different realm and that’s where you come in—”

“Like you did with Zarin, and I had to bring him back?” Willow said with a smile. “That’s brilliant. It will trap him there, Libby can pull Jaz out, and bam—no more demon to worry about.”

“Very good, but it won’t be that easy. Once they leave, we won’t be able to help them. The demon will be in its own body and we have no idea how powerful he’s become since he’s been roaming here for weeks now. It might take another one of you…”

“What do you mean ‘other realm’?” Libby asked.

It seemed the little wolf was the ring leader. Bev liked that she asked questions. It made things easier.

“Jaz will be put under a spell that sends him to another realm. It will be of his own imagination—I can’t control that. It’s in his subconscious. Once he’s there, he’ll need you to be his reminder that he needs to come home.”

“Why?”

Bev sighed. “Because the place will be what he considers perfect, or rather it will appear that way. He’ll forget about the real world, and what it has to offer him, unless something of vital importance reminds him. The longer he’s gone from reality the harder it will be to bring him back, but you’re his mate, and that’s the best way to bring him home. You’re a part of his heart now. Without you, he’d fall into his world and won’t be able to find his way back. That’s why this is so tricky. The world he creates will strive to trap him. Then he will become a shell of nothingness and he’ll never wake up.”

Libby gasped. “And if I’m not enough?”

“Then he would cease to exist here, and he and the demon will be trapped together.”

Libby didn’t make a sound, but her body trembled. Jaz reached over and took her hand. “We’ll be fine, I know you can bring me back.”

She glanced at the dragon. “How can you be so sure?” she whispered, but everyone, including Bev heard.

Bev worried their bond wasn’t strong enough yet. She could tell they hadn’t been mated long. It would take more than them, though to ensure the monster was never able to leave, but she wasn’t sure the dragons would approve of her idea.

“What else?” Aris asked getting her attention.

“Well, I’d like to send another dragon or two with them. Jaz and Libby alone cannot do this, no matter how strong they are. There are two of you that I think would be perfect, but clearly it’s up to you whether or not it’s acceptable.”

“And who might they be?” Aris ground out.

“Dallas and Max.” She cringed when Aris growled, but Bev ignored the threat. “Listen, before you get angry. They were the ones hurt most by the demon, especially young Dallas, and surely they want a chance to get their revenge. From what I’ve been told, the demon might have looked like Jaz, but the beast wasn’t in control whatsoever. So everyone wins. Jaz will break the bond between himself and the demon, Libby will be the heart that brings him back, and Dallas and Max will the shield and sword that locks him away forever.”

No one made a sound, as if they were waiting for Aris to agree. He was deep in thought and Bev knew he was debating on whether Dallas and Max were strong enough to handle it. Both were overcome with grief and guilt. Neither had healed from that horrid night, and Bev realized it would be difficult for them, but if they could ensure the demon was locked away, then they could recover from the damage he’d inflicted.

“I’ll do it,” Dallas said. “I want him to suffer for what he did.”

“Dallas, I don’t think—”

The young woman glared at her king. “I do. This is my chance to avenge Tali’s death. And if Bev is right and the dragon didn’t actually take part in that night, then who better than me to trap the demon? I hate him, and I’ll see him in my dreams forever, but if I can separate the demon from the man he looked like then maybe I won’t feel like such a failure.” She glanced at Jaz. “Are you telling the truth? Did you have any control?”

Jaz shook his head. “I swear. I know I haven’t been a good man, but—but I didn’t kill her,” Jaz responded, ending on a hoarse whisper.

Bev watched him curiously. She could see he was telling the truth, or at least partially, but before this was over, she’d know the whole truth, and if he wasn’t honest, well, she would take care of him, too. It had taken her a long time to trust dragons after everything she’d been through, but she wouldn’t bat a lash to take one more out of the world if he was a threat. No one knew of her secret plan though. She had her own agenda and if things went the opposite of what she hoped than Jaz and Libby would both have to die.

“I’m in, too, if Dallas is,” Max said, surprising everyone.

Dallas shared a look with him and he shrugged. “It was my fault. I wasn’t strong enough to save her.”

“So it’s settled, Jaz will go first, Libby, Dallas, and Max will follow,” Bev announced, interrupting the conversation before it fell into pity party of who was to blame for Tali’s death. She needed everyone involved confident. Self-pity would be like a giant chocolate cake, covered in a thicker layer of the world’s best chocolate frosting to a demon, and she had to ensure he didn’t get what he wanted.

Aris nodded, and Bev looked at Dillon who had yet to speak. When he noticed her attention on him, he shrugged. “I agree.”

“Good, now, I’ll need to delve into Jaz’s psych and gather what I need for the spell.”

“I’m ready,” Jaz said.

He seemed eager to begin, that alone made Bev curious. He didn’t seem nervous that he was about to be opened up completely for her to see. She would experience his whole life, explore every nook and cranny. He wouldn’t be able to hide anything from her once she began.

***

After Jaz announced he was ready, everyone went silent. He still wasn’t exactly sure what she was going to do to him, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he did what he needed to do to prove he wasn’t one of the bad guys.

At least, not anymore.

It was tough going from one extreme to another, but it would be worth it. If he was honest, with at least himself, he hated that had he spent so much of his time taking lives. He’d grown tired of it long ago, but between Ike and Lon, and his father, he was never given a break. His family was especially hard on him since he was the runt, and they treated him as such. Finding Libby was by far the greatest gift, and despite knowing he didn’t deserve her, she was the key to his change and happiness.

“Soph, why don’t you take the twins and Andrea go to Will’s house and stay with Cai?” Aris said.

Sophie didn’t argue with her mate, Jaz noticed. She nodded, leaving the room with another girl who had a long sleek pony tail and dark brown eyes. The woman’s mouth was held in a tight line and her skin was pale. She wasn’t doing well, not that it was his business, nor should he care.

Once the two women were gone, Aris sat down, and his shoulders seemed to relax. Jaz figured he didn’t like his mate near the enemy. Gaining a dragon’s forgiveness wasn’t an easy feat, and he didn’t know if he’d ever fit in with these dragons, even if he was able to successfully trap the demon. Even now he was actually worried. The demon had said they were a part of one another. Did that mean he knew what Bev planned to do? He sighed. That wouldn’t help matters. He could only hope that he was strong enough to fight him off.

“I need space, let’s spread out the furniture and each of you can create a circle. This can get dicey,” Bev said. “Jaz, you’ll need to lie on the floor.”

The dragons got busy moving the couches and chairs, leaving a big open space in the middle of the room. Once they were finished, he did as he was told and lay down. Aris, Willow, Dallas, Blane, Max, and Ilias sat forming the circle around him, then came Libby and Dillon. His mate was edgy, but she followed Bev’s instructions and sat between Ilias and Dillon.

Bev was in the center with him, and she nimbly sat next to him. She didn’t touch him, but he felt her magic wash over him. It was warm and coated him with a sense of belonging.

“No one can interfere.” She stared at Libby. “It can mess things up and bad things can happen. Right now, I’m going to find his tie to the demon. It shouldn’t be painful, but that depends on how much power the demon has over him.”

Libby cleared her throat. “I understand.”

Jaz smiled at his mate. “It will be all right.”

She shrugged, but he could tell she wasn’t looking forward to this, and she didn’t believe nothing negative would happen.

Bev cleared her throat. “Are you ready?”

He nodded, relaxing his body. Although he had never been one to let someone of the magical persuasion into his head, he wouldn’t fight this.

The witch placed a gentle hand over his heart. Her hand was warm enough he could feel the heat burn through his shirt against his flesh. It didn’t hurt, but it certainly wasn’t comfortable.

“Close your eyes and open up your mind to me,” Bev ordered in a whisper.

He didn’t respond with words as he carefully let down the walls he’d built through the years.

***

“Leave me alone,” Jaz wailed at his brothers. He hated when they chased him. It wasn’t fair. He was only a few minutes younger than them, but they were already so much bigger than him. He hated being small.

Ike chuckled as he tackled him to the ground. “You’ll never beat us, runt.”

Jaz didn’t respond when his face was shoved into the mud. Last night, the rain had come down for hours, wetting all of the land. Now, he held his lips tight, doing his best not to get any of the dirt in his mouth. He wasn’t like the other boys he knew. He didn’t like getting dirty or rough.

“Eat it!” Lon yelled, standing over him glaring.

Jaz shook his head refusing. He knew better than to fight. Ike sighed and rubbed his face into the dirt. It filled his nose, making it hard to breathe, but that didn’t stop the bully, instead Jaz gasped, and the mud was shoved into his open mouth. He spit and squirmed, trying to get out from under his brother, but it only served to push the dirt down his throat. He coughed and gagged as he waited for the torture to be over.

But it was never over.

***

Years later Jaz had grown, but he still hadn’t gotten lucky enough to be as big as his brothers. Still he was the runt.

“Hurry up, father needs us,” Ike said through the door.

Jaz frowned, wondering what was so important. Since their mother’s passing a few months prior, his father had been inconsolable. He barely left his study and Jaz wondered if the mean old bastard would wither away.

He missed his mother. She was the only one who understood him. But he wouldn’t cry anymore. He’d heard enough jibes from his brothers to turn those tears to ice. Neither of them had grieved for their mother. They didn’t seem to care one way or another. He hated them. And now that she was gone, there’d be no buffer. Even though he was faster and stronger than he used to be, it didn’t stop his brothers from bullying him. Not for the first time, he wished he could get away from this hell. He had nothing left.

With a sigh he opened his door to see Ike and Lon standing impatiently.

“It’s about time. Father shouldn’t be made to wait. He has a mission for us,” Lon said with excitement in his eyes.

Curiosity made him ask, “What mission?”

“You’ll see, let’s go.”

He followed his brothers down the hall to his father’s office. He had to steel in himself not to cringe. Father’s office held horrible memories.

That was the night Jaz killed for the first time. His brothers told him father insisted he take the hit. He had to prove his loyalty, and even though he hadn’t wanted to, he knew he had no choice. He couldn’t disappoint his father. Not if he wanted to escape his wrath. Since his mother died, any infraction was dealt with harshly. And things never got better—or easier after that.

Bev sifted through all his memories from each and every hit. From his growing bond with his brothers, though the bullying never stopped. If anything, he had grown accustomed to their relationship. He did all the grunt work, and if he ever showed signs of growing tired of their ways, they threated to tell their father, but instead would beat him to a pulp. His brothers got a joy out of killing. Out of the blood and violence, and at one point, he let go and did his job without thought or remorse. Sometimes, he enjoyed the hunt. It was in his blood to be violent. The money was great. The women were better, but his heart had become ice cold with hatred. He was cold and indifferent just like his brothers. He’d hoped they’d finally accept him, and for a time they did. But it was never enough.

Bev probed his memory for hours. They were no stones unturned. She found every bit of his life and forced him to relive every single memory as if it were happening again.

“Stop this!” Libby yelled frantically. He wasn’t sure why she was upset, but the pain in her voice was clear.

“Not yet, child. This is what must be done,” was Bev’s reply.

Jaz didn’t move when she found the memory of the night he nearly lost his life. The night he’d killed the innocent…